Discharge device for combined washing and drying machines



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DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR COMBINED WASHING AND DRYING MACHINES Filed Aug. 12, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 llllllllifiliii e" Afro/ME rs Patented a. 16, 1934 UNITED STATES DISCHARGE DEVICE FOR COMBINED WASH- ING AND DRYING MACHINES Peter E. Geldliof, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Easy Washing Machine Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application August 12, 1929, Serial No. 385,251

3 Claims. (01. 137-48) This invention relates to a new and improved clothes washer and drier and is particularly directed to that portion of the apparatus by means of which the fluid used in the apparatus is trans- 5 ierred from one receptacle to another or to an outside receptacle or drain.

When clothes washers are used, the clothes are first agitated in a vat containing water and cleaning material such as soap. After the clothes have been in this vat a sufficient length of time, they are transferred to the adjacent centrifugal extractor in which the fluid with which they are saturated is extracted.

It is desirable that the fluid so extracted be returned to the washing vat so that it will not be wasted inasmuch as it is still usable for washing a new batch of clothes. After the washing fluid has been extracted from the clothes, it is usual to saturate the clothes while still in the extractor with a rinsing fluid which fluid is in turn extracted from the clothes.

It is also sometimes desirable to return the extracted rinsing fluid to the extractor so that it may be again passed through the clothes. When this operation is performed the best results are obtained if this return flow of the rinsing fluid can be regulated as by means of an adjustable valve,

When the last batch of clothes has been washed and dried it is desirable that a convenient means be provided for finally disposing of the rinsing fluid into a sink or. other drain The main object of my invention is to provide a simple and convenient means whereby the washing fluid extracted from the clothes in the extractor may be returned to the washing vat, which means is also available for use in removing the rinsing fluid which has been used in the extractor and discharging it into a drain or set of rinsing tubs.

40 Another object is to provide a control means which will permit a change of direction of the dis-= charge of the fluid being removed from the washing vat or from the extractor without the necessi ty of stopping the operation of the apparatus during the time such change is being made:

Another object is to provide a means whereby the rinsing fluid which has been extracted from the clothes may be returned to the top of the extractor to be again passed through the clothes.

Another object is to provide a convenient means whereby the rate of flow of the fluid being drawn from the bottom of the extractor and re turned to the top thereof may be regulated Other objects and advantages relate to the size, shape and arrangement of parts all as will Figure 1. is a top plan view partially in section of the driving mechanism of a combined washing and drying machine, the washing vat and the extracting vat being indicated in broken lines and a portion of the top of the washing vat being in full and showing my discharging apparatus in one position Figure 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3--3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4, Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the upper end of my discharging apparatus showing a modified form of valve.

Figure 6 is a side elevation, partially in section, of that portion of my apparatus which is shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a section on line 7--7, Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a section on line 8-8, Figure 1.

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9, Figure 1.

Inasmuch as the exact way in which the differ ent parts of the washer and drier mechanism are operated is immaterial so far as my present invention is concerned, I have not here shown such operating mechanism in detail but have shown in detail such parts of the mechanism as are essential to an understanding of the invention disclosed in this application.

Referring to Figure l I have shown a motor 1 coupled to a shaft 2 which shaft 2, extends into and through a gear box 3. Suitable trains of gearing are provided in gear box 3 so that the washing mechanism, not shown, may be operated at will, as may be the drying mechanism, also not shown. I

At one end of crank case 3 I provide a housing a in which is positioned a centrifugal pump 5.

The pump 5 is secured to the forward end of shaft 2 and will be in operation during all the time that the shaft is rotated by the motor 1.

The housing 4 is provided with an intake opening 6 to which is secured a conduit 7 which extends outwardlyand upwardly therefrom, and

has its upper end secured to the bottom 8 of the conduit 13 extending laterally and upwardly towards the bottom 14 of washer vat 15.

On the upper end of conduit 13 is positioned a tubular coupling 16 inthe other end of which is positioned one end of a tubular outlet 17 which extends outwardly from a valve housing 18. The upper face of valve housing 18 has a vertically extending internally threaded tubular boss 19 which receives in threaded connection, the lower end of a conduit 20.

The upper end of conduit 20 is provided with an annular flange 21, such upper end being internally threaded. The upper face of annular flange 21 rests against the lower face of bottom 14 of washer vat 15, such bottom 14 having an opening therethrough in registration with conduit 20.

I preferably provide on the upper surface of that portion of' bottom 14 which rests on annular flange 21, a gasket 22. A nut 23 having an annular flange 24 is threaded into the end of conduit 20 with the flange 24 in registration with the gasket 22 to lock conduit 20 to bottom 14.

In order to guard against any portion of the clothes in the washer vat entering the conduit 20, I prefer to provide a cage or guard 25 having its lower end positioned in nut 23..

In valve housing 18 is journaled a rock shaft 26 having secured thereto, a laterally extending crank arm 2'7.

On the upper end of shaft 28 is positioned a.

Between valve 29 and crank arm 2'7, I provide a spiral spring 32 which encircles shaft 28 and which holds valve 29 spring pressed against the under surface of Washer 31.

The lower end of tubular boss 19 functions as a valve seat for valve 29.

As perhaps may best be seen from Figure 8, it will be apparent that the rocking movement of rock shaft 26 carrying crank arm 27 will cause valve 29 to be moved towards and from its seat to close and open communication between conduit 20 and valve housing 18.

For the purpose of providing a convenient means of rocking rock shaft 26 to open and close valve 29, I provide on the end of rock shaft 26, 31nd outside of valve housing 18, an operating han- At the lower end of housing 18, I provide a supplementary drainage opening 32' normally closed by a wing nut 33'.

To the outlet opening 34 of housing 4, I secure one end of a flexible conduit 35. On the other end of flexible conduit '35, I provide a cut-off valve which may be of various designs but for the purpose of describing my invention, I have here shown cut-off valves of two different types, the preferred form being shown in Figures 3 and 4, and a modified form being shown in Figures 5 and 6.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, my cut-off valve thereshown comprises a housing 36 having a downwardly extending internally threaded tubular boss 37 which receives in threaded connection. a nipple 38 to the lower end ,of which is secured the upper end of flexible conduit 35 as by a clamp 39.

On the upper end of housing 3 6, I provide a second internally threaded tubular boss 40 in which is pivotally secured a discharge spout 41. The. lower end of spout 41 is provided with an annular flange 42 which rests on a gasket 43, such gasket 43 being seated in the lower end of tubular boss '40.

An apertured lock nut 44 encircles spout 41 and is in threaded engagement with boss 40, the lower endof lock nut 44 being in registration with annular flange 42 to secure spout 41 in position in boss 40.

On one side of housing 36 secured thereto as by screws 45, I provide a laterally extending member 46. A shaft 47 is slidably mounted in member 46 and carries on its inner end, a disk valve 48 adapted to be moved into housing 36 to cut ofi communication between the opposite open ends of housing 36.

In a portion of member 46, a slot, indicated at a in Figure 4, is provided so that the retraction of shaft 47 will move valve 48 outwardly into such slot to open communication between the opposite open ends of housing 36. On the outer end of member 46, I provide an externally threaded boss 49; An internally threaded cap 50 having an aperture for the extension therethrough of shaft 47 is in threaded engagement with boss 49, a packing 51 being preferably positioned between cap 50 and boss 49 to prevent the leakage of liquid along shaft 4'7.

For the purpose of providing a convenien means for manipulating the shaft 4'7 to open and close valve 48, I provide on the outer end of shaft 47 a knob 52.

On one side of the lower end of housing 36, I provide a downwardly extending lug 53 for a purpose hereinafter to be described.

In Figure 4, I have shown in heavy lines, shaft 47 and valve 48 in the position in which communication between the opposite open ends of housing 36 is interrupted and I have indicated in dotted lines their positions when the valve has been retracted to the greatest extent to leave the passageway between the opposite open ends of housing 36 entirely uninterrupted.

It will be apparent, however, that valve 48 may be retracted from housing 36 to a greater or less degree as may be desired depending upon the size of the opening which it is desired to have through housing 36 with the result that the flow of fluid through housing 36 may be controlled.

In Figure 6, I have showna modified type of a cut-off valve in which I provide a housing 54 having a downwardly extending internally threaded tubular boss 55 into which is threaded a nipple 56,

conduit 35 being secured in the lower end of nipple 50 as by a circular clamp 5'7.

I prefer to provide a gasket 58 interposed between the upper end of nipple 56 and the top oftubular boss 55.

In the upper end of housing 54 is slidably mounted a plunger 59, a gland nut 60 backed by packing 61 being provided to prevent leakage of fluid along shaft 59.

The lower end of shaft 59 carries a disk valve spring 65 encircles plunger 59 and has one end abutting against gland nut 60 and the other end abutting against knob 64 to normally hold the plunger 59 in the raised position with the valve 62 out of registration with valve seat 63.

In Figure 6, I have indicated, in heavy lines, the relative position of the various parts with the plunger 59 and the valve 62 in the raised or open position, and I have indicated in dotted lines, the relative position'of such parts in the lowered position with the valve 62 in registration with valve seat 63.

A curved spout 66 is pivotally mounted in an internally threaded boss 67 which extends upwardly from housing 54.

Spout 66 carries on its lower end, an annular flange 68 which seats against the bottom surface of boss 67. A tubular externally threaded nut 69 is threaded in boss 67 to securely hold spout 66 in position while permitting it to pivot in boss 67, a packing 70 being preferably interposed between the lower end of nut 69 and the annular flange 68 on spout 66. 1

On the lower end of housing 54, I provide a downwardly extending lug 71 for a purpose hereinafter to be described. a

As perhaps may best be seen from Figure 2, the top of the combined washing and drying structure here illustrated is provided with a deck 72, a cover 73 for the washer vat '15, and a cover 74 for the drier vat 9.

The diameter of the washer vat 15, is greater than the diameter of the cover 73 so that the deck 72 functions to a certain extent as a cover for the vat 15.

As perhaps may best be seen from Figure 3, I provide in deck 72, a circular opening 75 which is in communication with the interior of the washer vat' 15. Opening 75 is of a size to permit the insertion therethrough of the end of spout 41 or of the end of spout 66.

I provide, foropening 75, a cover 76 which is pivotally mounted on the under surface of deck 72. Cover 76 is normally held in the raised position by the action of a spring 77 and when in such raised position, it closes the opening 75.

Adjacent the cover 74 of the drier vat 9, I provide a laterally extending lug 78 having an aperture 79 therein, which aperture 79 is adapted to receive either lug 53 or lug '71 depending upon the type of shut-off valve employed.

The driving mechanism and the vats 9 and 15 are supported on a base frame 80 from which extend upwardly 3 channels 81-81, two only here being shown. To the upper ends of channels 81-81 is secured the deck 72 so that such deck constitutes a part of the main frame of the device.

Operation When thewashing operation is started, the clothes to be washed are placed in the washin vat 15 and the valve 29 is closed.

The washing fluid is then introduced into the washer vat 15 and the washing mechanism is started in operation.

When this is done, the pump 5 will be operated but no fluid will be drawn through it because of the fact that there is no fluid escaping from the,

scribed because such spouts are of the same size and shape and function in the same way, is then inserted through the aperture 75 in the deck 72. r

The washing fluid which is thrown off from the clothes in, the drier vat 9 will pass downwardly 80 from the drier vat 9 through the conduit 7 to the pump 5 and from there it will be carried upwardly through the conduit 35 and thence through spout 41 into the washing vat 15 so that the fluid may be re-used for another washing operation.

After the washing water has been extracted from the clothes in the drier vat 9, rinsing water is introduced into .the drier vat 9 so that the same may pass through the clothes to remove anyof. the washing fluid which may be present therein.

When this rinsing operation has taken place, it is not desirable to have the rinsing water which is extracted from the clothes returned to the washer vat 15 and so that this may not happen, the valve 48 is closed.

If it is desired to rinse the clothes only once, the spout 41 may be removed from the deck 72 and the lug 53 inserted in boss 78 and spout 41 directed towards a drain or-rinsing tub.

When this is done, the valve 41 may be opened and the rinsing water extracted from the clothes will then be discharged to the place desired.

Frequently it is desirable to subject the clothes in the drier vat 9 to two or more rinsing operations and when it is desired to do this, the valve structure is placed in the socket on the extractor and the valve opened and water allowed to discharge back into the basket, this water having been sprayed over the clothes through the hose until the basket tub is about one-half to twothirds full of water and this same water goes repeatedly through valve 48, but due to the force of the pump, it is desirable to partially close valve 48 so that the stream from the nozzle is a small one and does not splash. In this case the valve merely acts as a pressure reducer, but at all times when the extractor is in operation valve 48'should be opened, allowing extracted water to be discharged either to the washing machine compartment or into a drain or returned to the extractor. 120

' The cover 74 of the drier vat 9 may then be opened and the spout 41 placed in the position indicated in dotted lines at b on Figure 2, and the valve 48 opened, and the rinsing water will then through the operation of the pump 5 be trans- 25 ferred to the upper end of drier vat 9 from whence it will again come into contact with the clothes.

When this operation is done, it is preferable that the rinsing water be notdischarged with the full force of the pump 5 and the valve 48 is opened 130 only a sufficient amount to permit the desired flow of water. I When the rinsing water is returned for the second rinsing operation in the manner just described, it is preferable during such operation to 135 stop the operation of the drying mechanism.

When the last batch of clothes has been washed and dried, the clothes are removed from the drier vat 9. It is then necessary to dispose of the washing fluid which is contained in the washer vat 15 and also to dispose of any rinsing fluid which may remain in the drier vat 9, and in order to accomplish this, the spout 41 is directed to a drain or other depository and valve 29 is opened.

Under these conditions, the washing fluid will pass through conduit 13 to pump 5 and from there it will be carried through conduit 35 and out through spout 41. At the same time, the rinsing fluid will pass throughconduit 7 to pump 5 and thence through conduit 35 to spout 41.

ally mounted in housing 36, the arrangement of parts permits of easy manipulation to change the direction of discharge of fluid from spout 41.-

It will be understood that my draining and discharge means here disclosed may be used with various types of washing and drying machines and it will also be understood that the particular type of valve used to close the discharge end of the conduit 32 is immaterial, although it is preferable to have a type of valve which may be easily manipulated by the operator, which is normally open, and which may be adjustedv to vary the amount of flow therethrough.

' It will also be understood that the materials of which my device is made may be varied as may be the size and shape of the various parts and means for securing them together, without departing from the spirit of my invention, for although I have shown and described a specific structure and form of part as an exemplification of an embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to restrict myself to the exact size, shape or relation of parts, as various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a combined washing and drying 'machine having a washing vat, a drying vat and a-pump and conduit system for withdrawing fluid from either of said vats, means comprising a portable unitary structure for controlling the flow of fluid from said pump and directing it to either of said vats or to a point externally of either of the vats, said unitary structure comprising a valve housing having a manually controlled valve operable therein, a goose neck spout secured to and rotatable with respect to the valve housing, a stud on the valve housing adapted to be received in a cooperating stud receiving aperture along the edge of one of the vats, and a flexible conduit secured to the pump discharge outlet and to the valve housing.

2. In a combined washing and drying machine, having a washing vat, a drying vat and a pump and conduit system for withdrawing fluid from either of said vats, means comprising a portable unitary structure for controlling and directing the flow of fluid from said pump, said means comprising a valve housing having a manually controlled valve operable therein, a goose neck spout operatively connected to and rotatable with respect to said valve housing, a flexible hose connected to the pump outlet and to the valve housing, means on the combined machine cooperating with a part of said unitary structure for positioning and supporting said, unitary structure whereby by a manual operation the fluid may be directed to either of said vats or if desired said goose neck spout may be rotated to discharge the fluid externally of either of said vats.

3. In a combined washing and drying machine, having a washing vat, a drying vat and a pump and conduit system for withdrawing fluid from either of said vats, means comprising a portable unitary structure for controlling the flow of fluid from said pump and directing it to either of said vats or to a point externally of either of said vats, said unitary structure comprising a valve housing having a manually operated flow regulating valve operable therein, an irregularly shaped stud extending from the valve-housing adapted to be received in a cooperating aperture on the associated washing and drying machine for positioning and supporting said unitary structure whereby fluid may be directed into the drying vat and if desired said spout may be manually rotated so as to direct the fluid externally of the washing llil 

